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    The Common Warm-Up Mistake You Could Be Making

    It’s been said that ‘how you start is how you finish’. This goes for workouts as well – the warm-up is vital for effective results. It is easy to skip this step and jump right into getting your sweat on, but here’s why you shouldn’t. Ceri Hannan from Planet Fitness gave us the low-down on warm-up mistakes that could be hurting your workout sesh…

    What is a warm-up?

    “In basic terms, the aim of any warm-up is to prepare the body for the work to follow,” Hannah begins. “General mobility of the joints and raising the body’s core temperature is key.”

    But why do we need to warm up? “Physical preparation is paramount from an injury prevention perspective,” Hannan explains. “Not to mention heightened awareness to react to the work that follows any warm-up.” But it’s not just your body that needs to be ready to work out. “Mental readiness also plays a crucial part in helping to connect the mind and body for a safe and effective exercise experience.”

    The warm-up mistake you could be making

    Yep, that’s right – you can warm-up incorrectly. Like most things in life, there’s a right and a wrong way to get yourself warm.

    “The most common mistake I see is people going straight into static stretching (holding a stretch for 10 seconds plus),” Ceri says. “This is fine ‘after’ the workout [when your body is warm], but generally the muscular-skeletal system is not warm enough to withstand a static stretch.” It’s also important to think about what you’ll be doing after the warm-up. “[The warm-up] is generally followed by ‘dynamic’ workout activity,” Ceri adds. Again, start how you plan to finish.

    How long should you warm up for?

    “Anything from five to 30 minutes, purely depending on the work to follow,” Ceri explains. “It also depends on the temperature and the individual human.” You’re ready to work out properly when you’re ‘warm’. You’re warm when you’ve got a bit of a sweat going and breathing a little heavier. Easy, really. Let’s work it.

    We’re warming up for Fit Night Out!

    Come Fit Night Out, we’ll be warming up with the best, celeb trainer Jessica Naylor, to get you ready for hours of fun, challenging workouts that you’ll love moving to. “Get ready for elevated heart rates and a killer endorphin kick,” says Naylor. Ready to get in on it? Get your tickets right here.  More

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    REVEALED: FNO’s Hot Girl Warm-Up With Jessica Naylor – And Why You Should Join Us 

    If you never warm-up before you work out, allow Fit Night Out to be the event that changes your mind. From elevating your workout gains to boosting mobility, there are a ton of reasons why this oft-overlooked practice is actually a powerhouse for fitness. 

    Come the 5th of August, warming us up is Jessica Naylor, celeb trainer, group exercise instructor and PUMA ambassador. “I’m looking forward to seeing so many gorgeous people move with meaning, using their bodies & having fun,” she says. Her approach to health and fitness? Enjoying workouts! “Make it fun and blast the music, live your life!” Naylor enthuses. 

    From boosting your calorie burn to much more, here’s what you stand to gain when you warm up before throwing down. 

    First off, it gets you ready for your workout 

    That’s the entire purpose of warming up: to prime your body for what you’re about to do. It boosts blood flow to your muscles, making them nimble and better able to handle things like jumps and weights. By increasing the amount of blood flow, a healthy dose of oxygen makes its way to your muscles to power you through your next movements.

    It improves movement 

    By doing dynamic stretches and gentle heart-raising movements before your workout, you essentially prime the connection between the brain and muscles for movement. This improves the efficiency at which you can work during your exercise, making for a much better workout. 

    Warm-ups boost performance 

    In one study, a warm-up of sprints and dynamic movement improved sprinting ability in athletes before a match. Athletes ran eight sets of 60m sprints, which improved their overall sprinting ability. And coupled with dynamic stretching afterwards, they improved sprint speed, agility and overall performance. 

    They reduce injury 

    Importantly, warming up your muscles properly before an activity can reduce the likelihood of injury during your workout, by as much as 30 percent, according to one study. While most research agrees with this hypothesis, there are some that don’t. But warming up is great for preventing injury anyway, as long as it fits the bill of what’s to come in your workout. That’s because the increased blood flow loosens up the muscles and gets them ready for your box jumps, burpees and everything in between. 

    Come Fit Night Out, we’ll be warming up with the best to get you ready for hours of fun, challenging workouts that you’ll love moving to. “Get ready for elevated heart rates and a killer endorphin kick,” says Naylor. Ready to get in on it? Get your tickets right here.  More

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    REVEALED: Join Angelique Van Der Linde At FNO – And The Exact Science Behind Our Step Workout

    Forget Jane Fonda – step workouts are what’s happening, right now and here. And come 5th of August, we’re stepping up to the plate with our step-free step workout. Leading us will be fitness instructor and WBFF Fitness Pro Athlete Angelique Van Der Linde. And she’s bringing the canned heat to your feet. “I hope to bring a fit flavour that the ladies have not been exposed to. My baby is almost one year old and being able to train with all these like-minded women and celebrate our super-human strength as women is a privilege,” she says. 

    Angelique’s approach to fitness 

    When it comes to making sure you’re staying in shape, Angelique has a go-and-get-it attitude. “Health & wellness is like brushing your teeth. Don’t overthink it. Just get it done,” she says. At her class, you can expect to crush calories while having a blast. Think you’ve got two left feet? Don’t sweat it. “I promise to keep it super simple but to fill every moment with inspiration and fun! No one cares about the moves, just move in the same direction as all the rest and have fun,” she says. 

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    Why we’re doing a step workout at FNO 

    From getting your heart pumping to challenging your muscles, here’s what you can expect from a high-intensity step class. 

    You’ll crush calories 

    Per personal data from one WH writer’s experience, just thirty minutes of steppin’ burned a whopping 200 calories alone. It’s also high-energy since jumping and stepping around will leave you drenched faster than you can sauce up some fries. 

    You’ll burn your quads and glutes 

    Step class is all about moving those legs, so expect your legs to burn. Stepping forwards and backwards (believe us) does a number on your quads and glutes, since these muscles serve as stabilisers that prevent you from falling over. 

    You’ll have fun 

    More than anything, this class, with its pumping feel-good music, will be fun. Expect to laugh as you try to master a killer step routine. 

    You’ll tone up 

    One study evaluated the effects of 12 weeks of step aerobics on elderly women. It found significant changes in waist circumference, and “had a positive effect on the functional fitness components of these older women,” the study notes. Plus, another study saw big improvements in V02 Max, meaning your overall fitness will improve. Get stepping, people! 

    Get ready for Fit Night Out! 

    From dancing to stepping, there’s something for everyone at Fit Night Out and you’re guaranteed a great time. “It’s always the biggest motivation to see so many women train together and share the love for health and wellness,” says Angelique. “When I see the sea of women in front of me, all feeling the rhythm and beat with a smile on their faces, that’s what I look forward to most! The class will be filled with hip-hop combinations mixed with some old-school step choreography. It’s something new, fresh but still familiar and anyone can join, benefit and enjoy this segment.” 

    Ready to get to it? Book your tickets to the fitness event of the year right here.  More